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What you'll find if you get into more detailed discussion with public-utility internet before dropping the socialism bomb is that they're usually advocating a h
by frig 17y ago
What you'll find if you get into more detailed discussion with public-utility internet before dropping the socialism bomb is that they're usually advocating a hybrid model: municipality builds out the pipes and then isps compete on actually providing internet service.
You're right about the loudmouths here, but it'd be a mistake to let your sense of public sentiment be overly colored just by volume.
Calling something socialism here is a pretty good debate hack, like calling someone racist or anti-semitic or whatnot; it's enough of a social taboo that the so-accused will usually feel compelled to defend themselves against it, thereby derailing the original course of discussion...this is a good strategy for winning unrefereed debates.
- jrockway 17y agoReally? I just laugh when I hear someone talk about Socialism in the US. We have been Socialist for years. Ever drive a car on the road? Did you buy the road? Did you pay a company for a subscription to the road network? No, it's all paid for by the government. That, my friend, is Socialism. And it's a good thing. (Actually, it's a bad thing; if people had to pay the full cost of using the road network, it would be a lot easier to get people to take public transportation. But I am just saying it's clear that Americans have nothing against Free Stuff From The Government, even if that Free Stuff is paid for with tax dollars.)
- Gormo 17y agoActually, most of us do pay for access to the roads, in the form of vehicle registrations, driver's licenses, and tolls. On average, I pay about $600-$700 every year just to drive on the public roads. The fact that the roads are owned by state and local governments does not inherently make them socialist.